The county was formed in 1881 from parts of Franklin County, Granville County, and Warren County. According to the 1955 book, Zeb's Black Baby, by Samuel Thomas Peace Sr., "The formation of Vance County was accomplished largely as a political expediency. It was in 1881 when Blacks in large numbers were voting solidly Republican. Granville and Franklin Counties were nip and tuck, Democratic or Republican. From the Democratic standpoint, Warren County was hopelessly Republican. But by taking from Granville, Franklin and Warren, those sections that were heavily Republican and out of these sections forming the new county of Vance, the Democratic party could lose Vance to the Republicans and save Granville and Franklin for the Democrats (see gerrymandering). [U.S.] Senator [Zebulon Baird] Vance was a Democrat. He took kindly to this move and thanked the [North Carolina] Legislature for honoring him with naming the new county after him. At the same time Vance showed his humor by always referring to Vance County as 'Zeb's Black Baby.'&nbsp; In the 1890 Census, Vance County was more than 63 percent African American.

• [http://home.comcast.net/~teylu/ncvance/henderson.html Henderson in the 1920s]

==== Parent County ====

==== Parent County ====

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'''1881'''--Vance County was created from [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville]], [[Warren County, North Carolina|Warren]], and [[Franklin County, North Carolina|Franklin]] Counties.<br>'''County seat:''' Henderson <ref name="Handybook">''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref>

'''1881'''--Vance County was created from [[Granville County, North Carolina|Granville]], [[Warren County, North Carolina|Warren]], and [[Franklin County, North Carolina|Franklin]] Counties.<br>'''County seat:''' Henderson <ref name="Handybook">''The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America'',10th ed. (Draper, UT:Everton Publishers, 2002).</ref>

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==== Populated Places ====

==== Populated Places ====

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*[http://www.ncgenweb.us/vance/other/townships.htm History of Vance County Townships]

*'''[http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?ct=ddl&sp=search&k=Markers&sv=G-49 St. John's Parish],''' Williamsboro, N.C. Historical church building, established 1746, church building completed in 1773.

==== Court ====

==== Court ====

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Vance County's Court system is the District 9 jurisdiction. More information about their Court system can be found on their website.<br> [http://www.nccourts.org/County/Vance/Courts/District.asp Vance County District Court] <br>156 Church St., Suite 101<br>Henderson, NC 27536<br>252-738-9000

==== Land ====

==== Land ====

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The Vance County Register of Deeds maintains land records back to the formation of the County in 1881. You will want to contact them for more details on how to obtain copies of these records.<br> [http://www.vancecounty.com/registerofdeeds.htm Vance County Register of Deeds] <br>122 Young Street, Suite F<br>Henderson, NC 27536<br>Phone: 252-738-2110

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There is a searchable online database for land records dating back to 1881 available here:

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[http://vancencrod.org/Opening.asp Land Records]

==== Local Histories ====

==== Local Histories ====

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*[http://home.comcast.net/~teylu/ncvance/henderson.html Life in Henderson in the 1920s], by Frances Parker Woodlief

*[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NC/Vance/state.html Vance County from National Register of Historical Places<br>]

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*[http://www.faulknerfamilies.com/index.htm Faulkners of Sandy Creek]

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*[http://www.angelfire.com/nc/yourday/reavis.html The Reavis Family of Vance County]

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*[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/n/Sabrina-J-Jones-North-Carolina/index.html Ealie Grissom Family of Kittrell<br>]

==== Maps ====

==== Maps ====

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*[http://www.lib.unc.edu/dc/ncmaps/browse_location.html North Carolina Maps],&nbsp; collaborative digitization project by the North Carolina State Archives, the Outer Banks History Center, and the University Library at UNC-Chapel Hill.<br>

Vance County has a number of marriage records missing, reason unknown.&nbsp; They have Marriage Registers that cover 1881-1962; Marriage Licenses for 1897, 1902, 1911-1968; there is an Index to the Marriage Register, 1963-1969.

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North Carolina began requiring Birth and Death records in 1913; there are a number of Delayed Birth Certificates that were filed by those born prior to that date, and there are a few Death Certificates that go back as far as 1909. <br>

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Copies of Birth, Death and Marriage records can be obtained from the Register of Deeds office. <br>

County Courthouse

Clerk Superior Court has divorce, probate and court recordsRegister of Deeds has marrriage and land[1]

History

The county was formed in 1881 from parts of Franklin County, Granville County, and Warren County. According to the 1955 book, Zeb's Black Baby, by Samuel Thomas Peace Sr., "The formation of Vance County was accomplished largely as a political expediency. It was in 1881 when Blacks in large numbers were voting solidly Republican. Granville and Franklin Counties were nip and tuck, Democratic or Republican. From the Democratic standpoint, Warren County was hopelessly Republican. But by taking from Granville, Franklin and Warren, those sections that were heavily Republican and out of these sections forming the new county of Vance, the Democratic party could lose Vance to the Republicans and save Granville and Franklin for the Democrats (see gerrymandering). [U.S.] Senator [Zebulon Baird] Vance was a Democrat. He took kindly to this move and thanked the [North Carolina] Legislature for honoring him with naming the new county after him. At the same time Vance showed his humor by always referring to Vance County as 'Zeb's Black Baby.' In the 1890 Census, Vance County was more than 63 percent African American.

Census

For tips on accessing Vance County, North Carolina Genealogy census records online, see: North Carolina Census.

Church Records

Church of England

St. John's Parish, Williamsboro, N.C. Historical church building, established 1746, church building completed in 1773.

Court

Vance County's Court system is the District 9 jurisdiction. More information about their Court system can be found on their website.Vance County District Court156 Church St., Suite 101Henderson, NC 27536252-738-9000

Land

The Vance County Register of Deeds maintains land records back to the formation of the County in 1881. You will want to contact them for more details on how to obtain copies of these records.Vance County Register of Deeds122 Young Street, Suite FHenderson, NC 27536Phone: 252-738-2110

There is a searchable online database for land records dating back to 1881 available here:

Taxation

Vital Records

Vance County has a number of marriage records missing, reason unknown. They have Marriage Registers that cover 1881-1962; Marriage Licenses for 1897, 1902, 1911-1968; there is an Index to the Marriage Register, 1963-1969.

North Carolina began requiring Birth and Death records in 1913; there are a number of Delayed Birth Certificates that were filed by those born prior to that date, and there are a few Death Certificates that go back as far as 1909.

Copies of Birth, Death and Marriage records can be obtained from the Register of Deeds office.